Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!decwrl!hayes.fai.alaska.edu!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: marc@ttc.uucp (Marc O'Krent) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: E911 Experience Message-ID: <9853@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 18 Jul 90 19:52:53 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Reply-To: Marc O'Krent Organization: Cochran&Associates, Menlo Park, CA Lines: 44 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 494, Message 7 of 10 In article <9805@accuvax.nwu.edu> Tom Perrine writes: X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 490, Message 8 of 10 >With all of the negative 911 experiences being described, I thought I >would mention that, at least here in a backwater :-) of Pac Bell land >(Poway, near San Diego), 911 works! Well, I can add my two cents also with a 911 experience which demonstrates that the system works, but not when the police force is over-taxed. You may have heard that we don't have enough police in LA what with being the new gang and drug center of the U.S. Several years ago I was home for lunch when I heard some arguing going on next door. I looked at the window to find a man standing on the walkway of the house next door with a long-nose revolver pointed at some workmen. Upon calling 911 I was told that officers would be "right over." Unfortunately, this is LA and the time was about 12-1pm which means that we were reaching the time when the LAPA has about five calls for every two officers. Twenty minutes later the 911 operator called me back and said "Is the man still there?". And I said, "I'm not sticking my head out the window again to find out, why don't you *send* someone over here and see for youself before someone gets shot!" Shortly thereafter officers did arrive and arrested the man. Upon searching his apartment they found a cache of weapons and ammo. The story was that the owner of the building had sent exterminators over to tent it, and this irate tenant was not too interested in leaving. On balance, the LAPD does a good job, but is simply too spread out which makes even 911 a risky bet a peak times. If you saw the PBS special on the trauma system, you would see that unfortunately the 911 system for medical emergencies is in even worse shape at times. Marc O'Krent The Telephone Connection Internet: marc@ttc.info.com MCIMail: mokrent Voice Mail: +1 213 551 9620